Classes

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Using a wet into wet technique, apply clean water over entire page. Starting with our lightest of values, apply Cerulean Blue and Winsor Yellow on the background area. Start to drop in the local colors of the pears. The shadow color is Cerulean Blue, foreground color is a very light background color. Lift out highlights on pears with thirsty brush. Clean up any edges on the pears on the table side also. Let dry.

Our values will now be more middle values, more pigments, less water. Indicate the background with Cobalt Blue and Winsor Yellow. Add a little Burnt Sienna as you go across the page, more Burnt Sienna and Cobalt Blue on the right side of the page. Try not mixing the colors. Continue to show the local hues on the pears, lifting out the highlight. Light source on the right side of the fruit. Let dry.

Starting at the top of the page using darker values, same pigments, repeat the same wash. While the pigment is still wet, use a credit card and scratch out some foliage shapes. Add some salt for texture. Scratch out the stems also. Use sharp edges when defining the fruits. Let dry. Go back into the fruit with your darker values and shadows. On the table top show a cast shadow with cobalt blue with a little Burnt Sienna.

Wet the entire paper with clean water, starting in the middle of the paper using Aureolin pigment with horizontal strokes. As you go up the page introduce Winsor Red. Below the horizon line or middle of the paper use Windor Red going down to the bottom of the paper. Using a thirsty brush pick up some color in the sky area. Let dry.

Using clean water brush the Aureolin area only, then apply Winsor Red, Winsor Yellow, Gamboge and Alizarin Crimson. Repeat these same colors in the foreground areas with the addition of Ultramarine Blue. Look at your value study to see where these values go. Let dry.

The last wash will consist again of the same colors, more pigment less water and trying to get as close to the values on the value study as possible. Put in far horizon line with Alizarin Crimson, Gamboge, Ultramarine Blue. For the rock shapes we will use Alizarin Crimson and Ultramarine Blue with a little Winsor Green. Carry this color out into the composition where the value study is very dark and soften the edges. Use a thirsty brush in the foreground area.

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About Me

The desire to create has been instilled in me since early childhood. I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota where I learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and the changing of seasons.
I received formal training in the Fine Arts Program at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois with further study at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Atelier Lack in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have belonged to many art groups and served as Workshop Chair of the Northstar Watercolor Society in the Twin Cities, where I received additional training under nationally renowned artists.
I work in watercolor, acrylics, and oils and have produced a substantial body of work in a number of categories including landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts. My experience also includes work in graphic design, in particular, having my work licensed in the greeting card industry.
My art is shown in galleries throughout the Minnesota area, has received awards in competitions, and is held by numerous private collections, businesses, and corporations. Commissions, teaching, participation in art fairs, and gallery representation keep me enthusiastic about painting.

Class Praises

"I just wanted to thank you for the kindness and remarkable patience you exhibited to all of us (especially me, because after all it's all about me!) in your wonderful art class last night. In addition to your vast artistic talents, you have a wonderful gift that few can claim, you are a teacher of imagination. Thank you for making some new neural pathways ignite last night!"